Current weather

First frost shows up late in Fairbanks area

FAIRBANKS (AP) -- Winter has left its calling card in the Fairbanks area.

The first frost of the year settled on North Pole and other outlying areas Saturday although temperatures in Fairbanks proper have yet to officially dip below freezing.

On average, North Pole's first frost of the year comes on Aug. 22, according to the Rick Thoman of the National Weather Service. But unusually warm temperatures over the latter half of August helped keep winter's approach at bay for an additional 10 days.

The average date of the first frost at Fairbanks International Airport, meanwhile, is Sept. 5. Last year, the temperature at the airport didn't drop to 32 degrees until Sept. 16. The year before that it was Sept. 20.